(Motorsport-Total.com) – Is Esteban Ocon’s Haas cockpit in 2027 going to Ferrari junior Rafael Camara? While rumors about a replacement for the French veteran, who is having a difficult season, are intensifying, two names are repeatedly mentioned as successors: Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli and Rafael Camara.
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The latter has good arguments as a Ferrari junior, since Haas has taken drivers from its engine partner several times in recent years – just like currently Oliver Bearman, who also belongs to the Scuderia academy.
Although Camara emphasizes that the connections to Formula 1 are encouraging, he makes it clear: Without the corresponding results in Formula 2, all speculation in the paddock is worthless, which is why he wants to focus on the current season.
“It’s nice to see,” he says in an interview with Formula 2 about the rumors. “You don’t really know at the moment, but it’s nice to experience something like that and see that the dream is close.”
“At the same time, you must not get too carried away, because I am still in the middle of a very important championship,” he emphasizes. “If you perform well there, you will most likely get your chance. So personally, I am fully focused on this year.”
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Camara won the championship title in Formula 3 outright last year and thereby earned the promotion to Formula 2, where he races for the top team Invicta, which in the past two years had the driver champion with Gabriel Bortoleto and Leonardo Fornaroli – also reigning Formula 3 champions.
Camara now wants to become the third in the line: “Not many drivers get such an opportunity – especially in a team that belongs to the best in Formula 2, and with the chance to fight for the title,” he says. “I just want to make the best of it and make sure I enjoy every moment.”
Currently, the 21-year-old is third overall in the championship with four pole positions and two wins. However, he is only two points behind Alpine junior Gabriele Mini, and Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov at the top is also within reach with a 22-point deficit.
A strong performance in the second half of the season will certainly increase his chances of a Formula 1 promotion.
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